The Titans and a large majority of the NFL are on vacation after an offseason full of intrigue and contractual drama. It’s a good time for everyone to take a breath and gear up for the 21st century’s silver anniversary season. Which legends of the Cumberland River made the All-Titans Silver Anniversary Defense? The offense got their turn in the sun earlier in the week. For the majority of their existence in Nashville, the Titans were known for their stout defense and running game.
Note: All statistics are courtesy of Pro Football Reference
Tennessee Titans All-Quarter Century Defense: The Silver Anniversary
Defensive Line
EDGE: Jevon Kearse
“The Freak” spent the first five seasons of his career with Tennessee, racking up 47.5 sacks in that period. He won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, earned a Pro Bowl selection, and was named a first-team All-Pro as a rookie in 1999. The 1999 season set the tone for his tenure, as he posted a monstrous 14.5 sacks, along with eight forced fumbles, for a top-tier defense. He more than lived up to his nickname as a freakishly athletic pass rusher throughout his career. Kearse left for Philadelphia during the middle stage of his career but returned to the Titans to retire in 2009. All told, The Freak finished fourth all-time in team history with 52 sacks, 22 passes defended, 22 forced fumbles, and 231 tackles in 88 games with Tennessee.
Honorable Mention: Denico Autry
Honorable mention goes to Denico Autry, who signed with the Titans in 2021 and was a key part of the defensive front. He was at his peak in Nashville, registering 28.5 of his 62 career sacks in three seasons. Autry played a nice complementary role next to another member of this team during his stay with Tennessee.
IDL: Jeffery Simmons
Simmons is the only active member of the Titans’ defense to earn a place on this illustrious list. He has a chance to do more to cement himself as one of the greats in Nashville. The former first-round selection is quite the regular standout on PFF’s annual lists. He’s one of the most feared interior defensive linemen in the league when he’s healthy and active. The Titans will rely on him to carry the load with the departures of their veterans going forward. In six seasons, he’s earned three Pro Bowl invitations and is already in the top ten of franchise history with 31.5 sacks. With several good seasons, he can catch himself in the top five and end all discussion of which IDL was best in Tennessee history. He’s the youngest member of the All-Titans Silver Anniversary defense.
IDL: Jurrell Casey
There is an argument that Casey is the best interior defensive lineman in team history. He’s second all-time in sacks with 51 and second in games played (139) for the position. Tennessee drafted him in the third round of the 2011 draft, and he made an immediate impact, starting 15 games. At the peak of his career, Casey notched five consecutive Pro Bowls as one of the league’s most devastating defensive tackles. The former Trojan split his time between defensive tackle and defensive end but became more famous as a tackle, so he slots in here on the All-Titans Silver Anniversary defense. He retired in 2020 due to injuries hampering his new start in Denver, but his impact on Tennessee will never be forgotten.
Honorable Mention: Albert Haynesworth
Honorable mention goes to another beast in the middle, Albert Haynesworth, who was impactful for the organization. He possessed all the big-time talent in the world, but couldn’t get out of his way mentally at times. Haynesworth is also known as the biggest free agent bust in the league’s annals.
EDGE: Harold Landry
Tennessee found a gem in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the selection of Landry. He played his way into the hearts and minds of Titans fans everywhere in six years of consistent play. The Boston College star pass rusher contributed 50.5 sacks in 98 games with Tennessee. He was stellar before the 2022 knee injury, but has noticeably slowed down since his return to health. As a result, the Titans released him, and he has since joined his former Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His 50.5 sacks with the Titans rank him sixth all-time in franchise history.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Vanden Bosch
The decision to mention Kyle Vanden Bosch in the honorable mention category is easy given his impact on Tennessee’s swarming defense of the early 2000s. While he didn’t start his career in Nashville, he was a fan favorite due to his talents and distinctive red contact lenses. He posted 38.5 sacks in 74 games for the Titans and finished his career with Sue Levine’s beloved Detroit Lions.
Linebacker
Keith Bulluck
Mr. Monday Night is perhaps the easiest selection for the All-Titans Silver Anniversary defense. He was the heart and soul of the Tennessee defense for ten seasons. The do-everything linebacker consistently stepped up in the most critical moments, serving as the field general who commanded the defense. Bulluck arguably has been the most vocal former player on social media about the team and has been chosen numerous times to announce draft selections. The legacy of the number 53 is immense, and it should be retired in his honor.
Honorable Mention: Wesley Woodyard
Wesley Woodyard earns the honorable mention selection after playing six solid seasons that laid the foundation. A foundation that the team leaned on during their most recent prosperous run. He began his career in Denver but finished it in Tennessee after the 2019 season. Woodyard posted 20 sacks and 500+ tackles during his stay with the Titans.
Derrick Morgan
The Titans selected Morgan with the 16th overall selection of the 2010 NFL Draft, and he paid dividends over a nine-year career. The early 2010s were a dismal era for Tennessee, but Morgan stayed consistent, albeit not flashy. He finished his pro career in Nashville with 44.5 sacks, 306 tackles, and 112 quarterback hits. It was a case of what could have been for the Georgia Tech star, as injuries derailed his career from becoming a superstar. His positional versatility was on display as he transitioned seamlessly between the 4-3 and 3-4 defenses. Morgan’s 44.5 sacks place him seventh overall in franchise history. He’s a well-regarded pass rusher in the annals of Titans history, having been a solid contributor. His efforts earned a spot on this All-Titans Silver Anniversary Defense.
Cornerback
Cortland Finnegan
Finnegan quickly became a fan favorite, making the team as a seventh-round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played the first six seasons of his ten-year career in two-toned blue, snagging 14 interceptions and 68 PBUs. The Samford star didn’t back down from any receiver and relished the challenge of locking down the best. Tennessee has had a cavalcade of talented cornerbacks, but none embodied the Titans’ underdog spirit like Finnegan. He was an undersized corner who took on all comers and won for the most part. He’s a notorious bulldog who fought like one and had an infamous brouhaha with Andre Johnson (who, incidentally, became a Titan later in his career)
Jason McCourty
While Finnegan brought the swagger, McCourty showed up with excellent cerebral play for eight seasons. He logged 108 games played for the Titans, recording 13 interceptions and 73 passes broken up. The Rutgers star finished his career with the Dolphins in 2021 after spending time with Cleveland and New England. McCourty worked his way into a starting job for six seasons until injury forced him out of Nashville. He won a Super Bowl with his twin brother, Devin, in 2018. Tennessee has a penchant for discovering late-round gems at the position, and McCourty was a great one for the Titans.
Safety
Kevin Byard
The Mayor of Murfreesboro surprised many people by earning a third-round selection, but he more than lived up to the billing. Essentially, the heir apparent to another teammate on this list, he spent eight seasons in Nashville before being traded to the Eagles in 2023. While in Tennessee, Byard produced 27 interceptions, 63 passes defended, and 674 tackles during a standout career. He was a versatile chess piece for the numerous coaches he worked with during his time in Nashville. Byard lived through the tough times of the late 2010s and succeeded during the good times, earning many fans in the process.
Michael Griffin
Who was the star safety that preceded the reign of Kevin Byard? Former first-round selection Michael Griffin, who starred for Texas in college. Griffin played nine seasons for the Titans, earning two Pro Bowl nods. All told, he posted 25 interceptions to go along with 60 passes defended and 773 total tackles in Nashville. He left during the 2016 offseason and returned to retire as a Titan in 2018. The former Longhorns star did well, setting the standard for past and current Titans’ free safeties to emulate. Interestingly, he was teammates with four of the five members of the secondary who made the All-Quarter Century Defense.
Chris Hope
The former Florida State standout joined the Titans in 2006, following a four-season stint with the Steelers to begin his career. He spent six of his 11 seasons in two-toned blue, notching 455 tackles, 16 interceptions, and 39 PBUs along with one Pro Bowl. Hope played the strong safety role during his career after Pittsburgh and retired with the Falcons after the 2012 season. Although his time in Nashville was relatively short compared to others, he made a significant impact on the Titans’ defense as a reliable defensive back.
Main Image: Steve Roberts – USA Today Sports
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